Researchers have concluded in reputable studies dating back decades that opioids are safe and effective for long-term use in the treatment of chronic pain, an expert witness testified in Cleveland County on Tuesday.

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have asked a judge to cut short a trial stemming from allegations made by the state that the companies created a “public nuisance” by aggressively and deceptively marketing opioids in Oklahoma.

A longtime Oklahoma sales representative for Janssen Pharmaceuticals defended the company’s record Tuesday, testifying that its goal has been to sell quality products, to tell the truth about them and to help doctors provide the best treatment for patients.